Say Cheese!

One mistake can ruin your life. This is a notion that most folks have difficulty comprehending. We are all fallible as human beings, but some errors are far worse than others. This is even true in sports. There's a big difference between fouling the opposition with fifteen minutes left in the game, and committing a foul late in a close contest that sends your opponent to the free throw line.

Bubblees, like everybody else, make mistakes. Their errors, however, are continuously of the really stupid variety. Splash's story is a perfect example of this.

He earned his nickname, Splash, because of his outside shot. Whatever shot Splash put in the air seemed to find the bottom of the net. He wasn't terribly athletic, but the boy could shoot! I loved that aspect of his game. The part I didn't like was the unnecessary show of confidence every time he made a shot. It was really annoying, actually. He was easily one of the cockiest kids I'd met here.

Splash came with a checkered past. Many guys I've worked with have been arrested, but none have gone to prison. Splash was the first guy I'd met who actually spent time in jail. Shortly before the school year started he informed me that enrolling in school wasn't going to happen. I thought he was just bailing out because of the upcoming conditioning run given his poor showing in summer workouts. Unfortunately, he had a much bigger issue on his hands.

Splash: Yo, I can't do this basketball thing here. Matter of fact, I can't even do the school thing.
Me: Why not?
Splash: Some stuff.
Me: Financial aid?
Splash: Kinda, but not really. I mean, I'm having issues gettin papers from my pops to do that but that's small.
Me: What's the problem? I can't help if you don't say anything.
Splash: You can't help me with this one. I know for sure you can't help.
Me: Try me.
Splash: Remember I told you I was locked up for a couple??
Me: Yeh.
Splash: Aiight man. I can't be in school cuz I'm registered as a sex offender and campus police wants to put my picture up on campus and I'm not havin' that!